Though there are no ancient
dedications to her in Britain, Ursula is said to have been a British
Princess. After her father, 'King' Donaut,
agreed to her marriage with Governor Conan
Meriadoc of Armorica (Brittany), she set sail to join him along
with 11,000 virginal handmaidens. However, a miraculous storm brought them
over the sea in a single day to a Gaulish port, where Ursula declared that
before her marriage she would undertake a pan-European pilgrimage.
Together, the British maidens headed for Rome where Ursula persuaded Pope
Cyriacus and Sulpicius, Bishop of Ravenna to join her happy band of
followers. She was later welcomed Pantulus, Bishop of Basle & Jaques,
Bishop of Liège, and 'King' Ethereus arrived from Britain with Prince
Conan himself. Together, they set out for Cologne which was being besieged
by Huns. In a dreadful massacre, the Huns beheaded all the virgins and,
with bow & arrow, their leader shot St. Ursula dead. Ursula and her
virgins were buried in Cologne where a great church is dedicated to her.
Conan, her husband, apparently survived.